Related Media

Defending champs end Western Reserve's season

COLUMBUS -- Western Reserve gave it a great shot in its first-ever state tournament game, but it ran into a tradition-rich team which played a little better.

The Blue Devils overcame some early defensive misplays, but they never got into an offensive flow and dropped a 6-2 decision to the Newark Catholic Green Wave in a Division IV state semifinal Thursday afternoon at Huntington Park.

"They have a lot of tradition, and that's something we're trying to build," Western Reserve head coach Ed Anthony said. "It was a nice journey to get (to the state semifinals) and our kids competed hard the entire game."

The Green Wave is on the verge of winning consecutive Division IV state championships. Although six starters graduated from the team which beat the Springfield Local Tigers in the title game last spring, they had three returning veterans who played in big games one year ago to lead the way.

"We're a young team, but we play with poise," Newark Catholic head coach John Cannizzaro said.

Senior second baseman Mike Lohr, senior center fielder Hunter Nance and senior first baseman Conor Keck were the three veterans who excelled against Western Reserve.

Lohr walked, singled, doubled and scored two runs. Nance singled twice and threw out a runner at the plate. Keck helped break the game open late with a two-run double.

"I just tried to put the ball in play," Zilke said. "It helps when you hit it on the ground and force them to field it."

Western Reserve only committed three errors, including two on errant throws on one sequence early in the game.

Lohr, the leadoff batter, lined a double down the left-field line in the last of the first inning, but he stay at second base. He moved to third when the throw to second skipped past the infielder and zipped into right field. The Blue Devils tried to cut down Lohr at third, but another errant throw allowed him to race home with the first run.

While the throws were disappointing and Western Reserve was forced to play catchup baseball early, it didn't come unraveled.

"We started a little jittery and that was probably expected, because this was our first state tournament game, but we settled down defensively," Anthony noted.

The Blue Devils only committed one more error, while the Green Wave were charged with four miscues. The first one helped Western Reserve tie the game.

With two outs and nobody on in the second inning, Tristan Bova reached first on an infield error. Bova stole second and scored when Zilke doubled over the right fielder's head.

"I was just looking a pitch I could hit and it happened to be the first one," Zilke smiled.

Senior right-handed pitcher Nick Allison, bothered by an elbow injury, started for the Blue Devils and battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. He loaded the bases in the second inning and the Green Wave snapped the 1-1 tie when third baseman Sean Thomas legged out a single to deep short. Bova stopped the ball on the edge of the outfield grass, preventing another run from scoring.

That was Bova's last play at shortstop and Allison's last pitch. Bova relieved Allison and prevented any further damage by inducing Keck to fly to right.

Bova, another senior right-hander, held Newark Catholic scoreless the next three innings, effectively changing speeds.

Newark Catholic junior starting pitcher Gabe Morris, however, protected the one-run lead with four shutout innings and he was efficient, throwing only 46 pitches from the third through the sixth inning, including 30 for strikes.

In the last of the sixth, the Green Wave created separation. Sophomore catcher Mitch Lohr singled to right, Mike Lohr beat out a bunt down the third-base line, Engle sacrificed the runners to second and third and Nance was intentionally walked, loading the bases.

Bova induced Thomas to lift a fly ball to right field for the second out, but it was deep enough to score Mitch Lohr.

Keck delivered a telling blow to Western Reserve, slamming the first pitch into left-center for a tw0-run double.

"One of the clinching blows was the double by Conor Keck," Cannizzaro stated. "He had struggled earlier in the game, but he's been a good hitter for us in the tournament and he overcame the (early) frustration."

Morris helped his cause with a run-scoring single, capping the four-run inning.

Western Reserve didn't go down without a fight in the seventh inning. Freshman Wyatt Larimer drew a one-out walk, and Bova and Zilke reached on infield errors, loading the bases.

Cannizzaro relieved Morris with Engle, while freshman Tanner Lake was inserted at shortstop. Zach Smith, the first batter, hit into a force play at third, plating Larimer with the second run.

Timko followed with a single up the middle. The lead runner on second was sent home. Nance picked up the ball and threw a strike to Mitch Lohr, who applied the tag on the sliding runner to end the game and Western Reserve's season.

"He (Nance) is a good outfielder, but we were still down (four runs) and needed to push them to make a play," Anthony explained. "To their credit, they did."

Western Reserve lost the game, but in one year showed remarkable improvement. It lost to Lowellville in its first postseason game last year.

"This was a great experience, going this far," Zilke reflected. "I just wish we could have gone all the way."

Eyeing its eighth state championship, Newark Catholic will meet Defiance Tinora for the title Saturday at 10 a.m.